Celebrate This Week: Mother's Day

Join us each weekend for Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres.

When we pause to celebrate, we find the joy.

 

   A week filled with moments to celebrate and remember.

Twenty-six years ago today, I spent one of the happiest afternoons of my life.  I've probably written about it before, but it bears repeating. My mother was in the nursing home fighting the ravages of cancer. My best friend, Jan, joined me at the nursing home for that Mother's Day afternoon.  And before long, Uncle Aaron (my grandfather's brother), came by too.  He and Jan serenaded us with gospel music for a long time that afternoon.  I grew up hearing my mother sing hymns as she cooked, as she ironed, as she hung out the clothes.  Just about any solitary activity found her singing hymns.  And she smiled through the pain as she listened to those beloved hymns sung by two special people on that sacred afternoon.  Before the month's end, my mother would die, but the memory of that afternoon continues to hold a special spot in my heart.   

This is a special Mother's Day for me.  It's my first one as a grandmother.  Teddy was born in June and Jack was born in January. The arrival of these two grand boys marks my arrival into the world of grandparenthood (I know that's not news to regular readers of this blog).   It's a delightful ride that's only just begun.  But I can finally understand a bit of what my mother meant when she would say, as she faced death, that she knew her kids would be okay, but she hated to leave her grand babies. 

 Jack and his sweet mama at yesterday's

community baby shower hosted by

performer Nancy Stewart

and our local library 

Teddy and Grandma reading a book 

during his recent visit 

The rhododendrons are in bloom!  
I must celebrate these rhodies that cascade

  over the fence from our neighbor's yard.